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A History of Division 36 (Psychology of Religion)

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A History of Division 36 (Psychology of Religion) A HISTORY OF DIVISION 36 (PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION) MARY E. REUDER Division 36 of the American Psychological Association (APA) had its origins in 1946 with the founding ofthe American Catholic Psychological Association (ACPA). This organization, in rum, outgrew its original objec­ tives and underwent a total reorganization in 1970, with a complete change in purpose, membership, and locus. The original aims of the association were twofold: U( 1) to bring psychology to Catholics and (2) to bring a Catholic viewpoint to psychology" (Bier, 1975)---especiaUy by encouraging the reaching ofpsychology in CatholiccoUeges and by encouraging Catholics to obtain PhOs in psychology. Thus was born plRJ (Psychologists Interested in Religious Issues), From its inception, and partly with strategic intent, PIRl's bylaw structure, membership requirements, and objecrives were mcxl· e1ed on those for an APA division. This provided a smooth organizational transition to division StatuS once the hurdle of obtaining acceptance by the APA Council of Representatives was accomplisl1ed. In 1976 PIRl became Division 36. Although those who joined PIRI and its officers and committee members were all fully conversant with the divisional title, the rest of the world was apparently not. The acronym PrRI and its fuU title "Psychologists The author is detoply inck:bu~d 10 Sam JonI3Jl of the APA for her eXI~nsive help in C13<;:kin8 do"Tl the vanOIA elIrly presidentJ and their (emu of office. 9/ Interested in Religious Issues" was more and more frequently "explained" to others as, "Oh, that's the division of psychology of religion." In 1993, by an overwhelming vote, the membership changed its name to Psychology of Religion. In preparing the more detailed history that follows, the question of origins arose: Should I start at 1946 with ACPA or 1976 with Division 36 PIRl? The APA national office raised a similar problem when it requested a historical list of the names of the division's past presidents for a plaque celebrating the Golden Anniversary of Divisions in 1996. The executive committee of the division decided to stan with ACPA. As one member of the committee put it, 'That is our history, so be it!" Thus, this history likewise will begin with a discussion of ACPA.1 AMERICAN CATHOLIC PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 1946-1970 In today's milieu, it is hard to imagine the intellectual climate of 1946, particularly the Zeitgeist surrounding psychologists, religion, and psychol­ ogy-especially in the world of Catholic intellectuaJs.! Catholic scholars working in the field of psychology, especially members of the APA, were few in number and relatively isolated from each other. Among Catholic groups, there was a strong "Catholic ghetto" mentality. In most Catholic schools and colleges, psychology was viewed as either a branch of philosophy (the study of the soul) or of education (the study of child behavior or principles of learning). There was much intellectual hostility toward the relatively new behavioral-scientific discipline with its emphasis on objective methods of investigation and on observable behavior. This negativism was reinforced by the srrong impact that logical positivism had on all science of the era. The hostility toward psychology was a two-way street shared both by those antithetical to religion and by many clergy and lay people, including persons of prominence. This atmosphere was especially well de­ scribed in detail in Sexton (1986). In 1946, during the APA convention in Philadelphia (Bier, 1975), a small group of Catholic scholars discussed at length the need for and desir­ ability of a Catholic psychological organization. The discussion ended, as it so often does among scholars. with the conclusion that more information was needed. A committee was appointed to gather names of prospective members. During the following year a list was compiled and a letter of 'MOM 0( {he informauon (or !he hl.\lOry of ACPA and the e3r1y PIRI wa!I obtained from B,er (]97S) and &xton (1986). lThis section is a revlSlOO af Reuder (1997). 92 MARY E. REUDER invitation sent to nil those listed by William C. Bier, then a graduate student at the Catholic University ofAmerica. One hundred ten persons responded to the inviHltion fO anend a luncheon meeting in Dcuoit held concurrentl~' with the APA convention. It was chere that commiltnent emerged. Over­ whelmingly ic was agreed that the organization was needed. A comminee was appointed, he~lded by Bier. This committee worked throughout the following yem (0 produce a constit'ution. nlU:~ the membership of this committee can be viewl..-d as the official "founders" ofthe ACPA.ln addition to Bier they were, in the Chicago area, Charles!. Doyle, Loyola University, and Walter L. Wilkins. Notre Dame; in the Detroit :lrea, Alcxander A. Schneiders, University of Detroit and Sister M"T)', Marygrove Cllllcge; in Canada, Roger Philip, Queens Univcr.;ity, and Lawrence T. l)ahaw, Univer­ sity ofOuawa; in the New York .. rea, Joseph F. Kubis and Richard T, Zegers, Fordham University; llnd in .he Washington, DC. area, Jllhn W. Swfford and Gertrude M. Reiman, Catholic University of America. These persons and those who held thc office llfpresidclH Ihroughoulthc years (sec T.. hle 4·1) were among the srnlw<lTts on whom the org:mimtiun resled. Membership requirements were a crucial facfor underlymg lhe 1948 discussion of the proposed cunstitlHion. TI,ere was much di:iCussiun ahollt who should be eligihle (or membership. There was even a proposal thar tli<-· Catholic bishops be made members. or al leasl hunoTaT)' rnemhcrs. However, the spirit behind the commenl of one partIClp:ml-"Let the bishnps get TABLE 4·1 Presidents 01 the American Catholic Psychological Association (ACPA) and Predivisional Psychologists Interested in Religious Issues (PIRI) ACPA Years Presidents Years Presidents 1949-1950 Roger Philip 1959-1960 Raymond McCall 1950-1951 John W. StaHord 1960-1961 William C. Cottle 1951-1952 Joseph Kubis 1961-1962 Joseph G. Keegan 1952-1953 Alexander Schneiders 1962-1963 John M. E9an 1953-1954 Char1es Curran 1963-1964 Thomas N. McCarthy 1954-1955 Vincent Herr 1964-1965 Virginia Staudt Sexton 1955-1956 William A. Kelly 1965-1966 John J. Cribbln 1956-1957 TImothy J. Gannon 1966-1967 Paul D'Arcy 1957-1958 Magda Amold 1967-1968 Waller J. Coville 1958-1959 Salvatore G. DIMlchael 1968-1969 Paul J. Centi 1969-1970 Robert T. Lennon PIAl 1970-1971 John V. Dondero 1973 1974 Sheridan P. McCabe 1971-1972 Vytautas Bleliauskas 1974-1975 William C. Bier 1972-1973 Louis B. Gaffney 1975-1976 Eugene Kennedy f\ ,·f/STORY OF DIVISION 36 93 a PhD fim"-prevailed. Underlying the debate was a fear that the new organization might tum into a separatist interest group of Catholics in the field of psychology. reinforcing a then~current inferior mentality. By making membership in ACPA contingent on prior membership in the APA, integra­ tion of participants into the mainstream of the discipline was ensured. This membership requitement was retained when ACPA was reorganized into PIR!. One primary objective of the ACPA was the elevation of psychology to a legitimate curricular area within many Catholiceducational institutions. As previously noted, there was a widespread tendency to consider psychology as a minor aspect of philosophy or education. Even where psychology depart­ ments existed, the reaching faculty was all too often drawn from persons trained in other disciplines. By making APA membership a prerequisite for membership in ACPA and by holding annual meetings in conjunction with the APA conventions, these teaching faculties were far more likely to be drawn into the mainStream of psychology. A second objective, critical for establishing ACPA as a truly profes­ sional organization rather than a parochial social group. was an emphasis on establishing scholarly programs. These included formal paper sessions as well as publications, including a newsletter. the proceedings of symposia. and ultimately a journal, The Catholic PsychologU:a1 Record. The symposia were papers originating at the annual meetings. After the first volume, Pe-rceprion in PTesent~Da"j Psychology (l956), all of the papers were joint presentations with various APA divisions and listed in the APA program. The newslener, from the very beginning. contained a significant book review section, reports on the meetings of the APA hoard of directors, and brief scholarly anicles.ln this regard. the activi.ties ofthe ACPA were practically identical to those of many APA divisions. Membership in the ACPA grew slowly and steadily until it reached a peak of 764 in 1967, after which a grd.dual decline set in. By 1974 membership was down to 516. Clearly, a serious situation had to be faced. As early as 1966 a committee had been established to analyze the situation and to make recommendations. It was eminently clear that one of the primary objectives in founding the ACPA had been fully met and was no longer of special relevance: The Catholic educational institutions by this time had practically all established psychology departments staffed by psy' chologists. Psychologists who happened 1:0 be Catholic did nOt necessarily feel any need for a denominational association. The scholarly products of the ACPA were oriented far more at general and religious issues in psychol­ ogy than at specifically Catholic ones. And SO the conclusion was reached: Either disband or reorganiz.e with a different mandate. After extensive and exhaustive debate, a vote ofthe membership fully supported reorganization. 94 MARY E. REVDER PSYCHOLOOISTS INTERESTED IN RELIGIOUS ISSUES, 1970-1976 In 1968 then ACPA president Paul Cenri chaired a comminee to do the restructuring. The Zeitgeist was quite different (rom the 1946 ern. Ecumenism \\las in the air. and psychologists who cared 300m religious issues were clearly a special interest group. Thus a key feature ofthe reorganization was to eliminate the word "Catholic" from both the title and rhe statement ofpurpose.
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